Degeneration of dorsal roots in the adult rat spinal cord

Glial-glial and glial-neuronal interfaces in radiation-induced, glia-depleted spinal cord

This review summarises some of the major findings derived from studies using the model of a glia-depleted environment developed and characterised in this laboratory. Glial depletion is achieved by exposure of the immature rodent spinal cord to x-radiation which markedly reduces both astrocyte and oligodendrocyte populations and severely impairs myelination. This glia-depleted, hypomyelinated state presents a unique opportunity to examine aspects of spinal cord maturation in the absence of a normal glial population. An associated sequela within 2-3 wk following irradiation is the appearance of Schwann cells in the dorsal portion of the spinal cord. Characteristics of these intraspinal Schwann cells, their patterns of myelination or ensheathment, and their interrelations with the few remaining central glia have been examined. A later sequela is the development of Schwann cells in the ventral aspect of the spinal cord where they occur predominantly in the grey matter. Characteristics of these ventrally situated intraspinal Schwann cells are compared with those of Schwann cells located dorsally. Recently, injury responses have been defined in the glia-depleted spinal cord subsequent to the lesioning of dorsal spinal nerve roots. In otherwise normal animals, dorsal nerve root injury induces an astrocytic reaction within the spinal segments with which the root(s) is/are associated. Lesioning of the 4th lumbar dorsal root on the right side in irradiated or nonirradiated animals results in markedly different glial responses with little astrocytic scarring in the irradiated animals. Tracing studies reveal that these lesioned dorsal root axons regrow rather robustly into the spinal cord in irradiated but not in nonirradiated animals. To examine role(s) of glial cells in preventing this axonal regrowth, glial cells are now being added back to this glia-depleted environment through transplantation of cultured glia into the irradiated area. Transplanted astrocytes establish barrier-like arrangements within the irradiated cords and prevent axonal regrowth into the cord. Studies using other types of glial cultures (oligodendrocyte or mixed) are ongoing.

Comparisons of capillary maturation in control and hypothyroid rat spinal cord: an ultrastructural study

Quantitative and qualitative features of capillary maturation were examined in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord of control and neonatally induced hypothyroid rats from birth to 6 weeks, using light (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). Quantification of the capillary densities by LM in the control animals and their hypothyroid litter mates have shown three- and twofold increases, respectively, from birth to Postnatal (Pn) Day 21. The following features were observed in the control animals at the EM level: (a) The newborn animals showed varying degrees of capillary maturation; (b) The majority of capillaries possessed mature characteristics by Pn Day 21; (c) By Pn Day 42, mature characteristics were found in nearly all capillary profiles. The hypothyroid animals demonstrated: (1) reactive perivascular cells and astrocytes; (2) delayed appearance of glycogen in the early Pn period and its persistence in extensive amounts during the latter part (3-6 weeks) of development; (3) cytoplasmic extensions of endothelial cells and perivascular cells, and (4) the presence of mitotic endothelial cells and perivascular cells even during the latter period of development. The observations suggest that the peak period of vasculogenesis in the lumbar spinal cord of the normal rat occurs during the second and third Pn weeks. The results from the hypothyroid rats point toward a delay in development and maturation of capillaries resulting in a hypoplastic vascular bed of the ventral horn. The reactive cells and the accumulation of glycogen particles could be morphological expressions of biochemical changes in hypothyroidism during the critical period of CNS development.

Glial response to dorsal root lesion in the irradiated spinal cord

Exposure of the rat lumbar spinal cord to X-rays during the early postnatal period results in a marked reduction in the glial populations within the irradiated region. The present study was undertaken to determine what effects this reduction of glia, particularly astrocytes, has on the pattern and characteristics of the scar formation that follows root injury in the normal spinal cord. Morphological assessments 60 days following injury of the right L4 dorsal root revealed a distinct difference in the extent of the astrocyte response between the irradiated and the nonirradiated rats. In the nonirradiated animals, a thick astrocytic scar composed of multiple layers of astrocyte processes formed over the dorsal horn and adjacent portions of the dorsal surface of the cord. This astrocytic response was not confined to the surface of the spinal cord but extended also into the root, i.e., into regions normally considered as PNS. In irradiated rats, the astrocytes did not form a thick scar nor did they extend into the injured root. Instead, they formed a glia limitans and were at most only one or two layers thick over the region of cord comparable to that occupied by the thick astrocytic scar in the nonirradiated rats. Mechanisms involved in the glial response of the irradiated spinal cord to dorsal root injury are discussed, particularly with regard to the possible positive effect that this reduction in scar formation may have on regrowth of injured dorsal root axons into the spinal cord environment.

A comparison of the regeneration potential of dorsal root fibers into gray or white matter of the adult rat spinal cord

To assess the role of white matter inhibition as a barrier to neurite outgrowth in vivo, we unilaterally transected three consecutive lumbar dorsal roots (L4-L6), incised the spinal cord, and transplanted the peripheral stump of L4 either medially onto the white matter of the dorsal columns or laterally, just superficial to the gray matter of the dorsal horn at the level of L5. Three weeks to seven months later, the translocated root was retransected, and its central stump was anterogradely labeled with HRP. The staining pattern demonstrated that regenerating sensory axons had entered the spinal cord from both medially and laterally placed roots. Axonal staining from medially placed dorsal roots (onto the white matter of the dorsal columns) was sparse and limited to the white matter. Staining of laterally placed roots revealed a small subpopulation of regenerating axons which had entered the gray matter and formed terminal arbors. Successful axonal regeneration into the gray matter, albeit minimal, was associated with a localized and limited inflammatory response near the sites of axonal ingrowth.

Long-term survival of peripheral axons that have reinnervated the spinal cord

Adult cats received grafts after the fashion of Barnes and Worall by anastomosing the central stump of a ventral L7 root to the central stump of a dorsal L6 root. After regeneration periods from 4 weeks to 316 weeks (79 months) the regenerated axons were identified by the horseradish peroxidase technique. In some animals, regenerated boutons were identified using electron microscopy. With shorter regeneration times, most of the labeled axons were seen in the white matter of the dorsal funiculus. In the longest surviving cat, labeled axons were seen in the entire medial half of the dorsal horn grey matter. Boutons derived from regenerated axons appeared typical of CNS boutons, showing none of the morphologic characteristics of the motor end plate.

Neuronal changes induced by neonatal hypothyroidism: an ultrastructural study

The postnatal development of the neurons of the cuneate nucleus was examined ultrastructurally in euthyroid and hypothyroid rats from birth to the sixth postnatal week. In the euthyroid animals, the neurons at birth displayed mild nuclear invaginations and a scanty cytoplasm with few organelles. By 2 weeks, there was a considerable increase in Nissl bodies. At 3 weeks, the neurons contained short lamellar arrays of endoplasmic reticulum. Between 3 and 6 weeks there was a reduction in the Nissl substance. In the hypothyroid animals, although the sequence of maturational changes generally resembled that of the controls, a number of differences were noted. The neurons at 1 week displayed dilations of perinuclear space, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, and mitochondria. At 4 weeks both perikaryon and myelinated axons contained glycogen. Several neurons with cytoplasmic inclusions considered to be nonfunctional RNA were seen. The 6-week hypothyroid neuron exhibited large, clear, cytoplasmic vacuoles associated with a drastic reduction in cytoplasmic organelles. Presynaptic terminals showed a 50% reduction in mitochondrial numbers associated with the presence of glycogen granules. Three changes observed in neurites in all the age groups included: (1) large accumulation of glycogen in presynaptic terminals; (2) clear vacuoles; and (3) the presence of numerous lamellar bodies within reactive axons. Aberrant myelination, such as a single myelin sheath enclosing multiple processes, and instances of collapsed and redundant myelin were encountered.

Ultrastructural study of enzymes in reactive astrocytes: clarification of astrocytic activity

Enzymes in reactive of the cerebral cortex were examined at the ultrastructural level in an attempt to resolve some conflicting aspects of astrocytic activity. Correlations between morphological and enzyme changes after injury established that the apparent increase in oxidative enzyme activity was exclusively mitochondrial and not an artefactual reaction product resulting from anoxic cellular damage. Pronounced glucose-6-phosphatase activity within cisternae of an increased amount of the granular endoplasmic reticulum was related to increased glycogen. Further evidence from acid phosphatase activity indicated that astrocytes played a minimal role in phagocytosis.

The ultrastructure of Wallerian degeneration in the severed optic nerve of the newt (Triturus viridescens)

Wallerian degeneration in the severed newt's (Triturus viridescens) optic nerve is complete between the 10-14th post operative day (p.o.d.). Consequently, the newt optic nerve displays one of the most rapid degenerative responses yet reported for the central nervous system of vertebrates. In most cases it also exhibits the speed of degenerative phenomenon in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system. The degeneration of unmyelinated axons is most rapid and is completed by 2-3 p.o.d., compared to myelinated axons, most of which degenerate between 2-10 p.o.d. Myelin ring formation (vesicular transformation) is the principal form of lamellar breakdown and occurs in a highly organized manner which can be clearly staged. The glial cell response to Wallerian degneration is two-fold: cytoplasmic hypertrophy and myelin-lytic. Glial hypertrophy subsides by the 10-14 p.o.d. with the ingrowth of numerous regenerating nerve fibers. The myelin-lytic response accounts for most of the myelin destruction. Leukocyte-like and microglia-like cells also participate in myelin breakdown but to a lesser degree.